For more information, contact the financial aid office on the campus of your choice or Financial Aid Office, North Dakota University System director for financial aid, 701-328-2906.

North Dakota Academic ScholarshipsThe North Dakota Legislature created this scholarship to encourage and reward high school students for taking challenging coursework in preparation for attending a college or university in North Dakota.

Amount: Total possible value is $6,000; $750 per semester or $500 per quarter. Scholarships are renewable for full-time students who maintain cumulative GPAs of 2.75 or higher. Full-time for this scholarship means enrollment in at least twelve credits during a student's first two semesters or quarters and enrollment in at least fifteen credits during each term thereafter.

Who is eligible: Scholarship candidates must be North Dakota resident high school seniors, have GPAs of 3.0 or higher with no grade lower than a "C" on any class required for the diploma, complete the required program of study (see high school counselor for details), and earn composite scores of 24 or higher on the ACT. For more information about scholarship eligibility, go to the Department of Public Instruction website. Additional eligibility information can also be found in NDUS Procedure 508.2.1.

Where the scholarship can be used: Recipients can use the scholarship at any of the approved regional public, private or tribal colleges within the state of North Dakota. Eligible institutions must be regionally accredited and offer programs of study of at least 2 years in length. The approved public colleges include Bismarck State College, Dakota College at Bottineau, Dickinson State University, Lake Region State College, Mayville State University, Minot State University, North Dakota State College of Science, North Dakota State University, University of North Dakota, Valley City State University and Williston State College. Approved private colleges include Rasmussen College (Bismarck and Fargo location), Trinity Bible College, University of Jamestown and University of Mary. Approved tribal colleges include Cankdeska Cikana Community College, Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, Sitting Bull College, Turtle Mountain Community College and United Tribes Technical College.

How to apply: In addition to taking the required coursework and meeting the required grade point average and testing requirements, an application is required. Please complete the application form with the ND Department of Public Instruction.

Amount: Total possible value is $6,000; $750 per semester or $500 per quarter. Scholarships are renewable for full-time students who maintain cumulative GPAs of 2.75 or higher. Full-time for this scholarship means enrollment in at least twelve credits during a student's first two semesters or quarters and enrollment in at least fifteen credits during each term thereafter.

Who is eligible: Scholarship candidates must be North Dakota resident high school seniors, have GPAs of 3.0 or higher with no grade lower than a "C" on any class required for the diploma, complete the required program of study (see high school counselor for details), and earn composite scores of 24 or higher on the ACT or three 5s on the WorkKeys assessments. For more information about scholarships eligibility go to the Department of Public Instruction website. Additional eligibility information can also be found in the NDUS Procedure 508.2.1.

Where the scholarship is used: Recipients can use the scholarship at any of the approved regional public, private or tribal colleges within the state of North Dakota. Eligible institutions must be regionally accredited and offer programs of study of at least 2 years in length. The approved public colleges include Bismarck State College, Dakota College at Bottineau, Dickinson State University, Lake Region State College, Mayville State University, Minot State University, North Dakota State College of Science, North Dakota State University, University of North Dakota, Valley City State University and Williston State College. Approved private colleges include Rasmussen College (Bismarck and Fargo location), Trinity Bible College, University of Jamestown and University of Mary. Approved tribal colleges include Cankdeska Cikana Community College, Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, Sitting Bull College, Turtle Mountain Community Colleges and United Tribes Technical College.

How to apply: In addition to taking the required coursework and meeting the required grade point average and testing requirements, an application is required. Please complete the application form with the ND Department of Public Instruction.

North Dakota Scholars ProgramThis program provides merit-based, full-tuition scholarships to qualifying North Dakota high school graduates who choose to earn undergraduate degrees in North Dakota.

Amount: The amount of the scholarship is equal to the tuition rate charged at the scholar's institution, not to exceed the highest regular resident undergraduate tuition rate in the North Dakota University System. Scholars may receive the award for nor more than eight semesters or twelve quarters of full-time undergraduate study, or until the attainment of a baccalaureate degree, whichever occurs first. Scholarships will be sent directly to the institution the student is attending.

Who is eligible for consideration: High school students who score at or above the ninety-fifth percentile among those who took the ACT prior to July 1st in the calendar year preceding the individual's enrollment in college will be considered for the award. Students will be awarded in descending rank order until available funds are expended or until the pool of applicants has been exhausted. Additional eligibility information is available in NDUS Procedure 500.2

How to apply: Take the ACT Assessment prior to July 1 in the calendar year preceding the student's full-time enrollment in college. No separate application is required.

North Dakota State Student Incentive Grant ProgramAlso known as the State Grant Program, this program provides non-repayable grants to North Dakota residents who are first-time undergraduate students and who attend qualifying North Dakota public, private or tribal colleges.

Amount: North Dakota State Grants award up to $975 per semester or $650 per quarter, based on enrollment status. Students may reapply each year by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Eligibility is limited to eight semesters or twelve quarters of full-time equivalent undergraduate enrollment, or the attainment of a baccalaureate degree, whichever comes first.

Who is eligible: North Dakota resident applicants must have:

graduated from a high school in this state;

What you need to do: Ensure your high school name, city and state is listed on your FAFSA.

What you need to do: Contact the NDUS at ndfinaid@ndus.edu to inquire on eligibility.

graduated from a nonpublic high school in a bordering state while residing with a custodial parent in this state:

What you need to do: Contact the NDUS at ndfinaid@ndus.edu to inquire on eligibility.

completed a program of home education supervised in accordance with N.D.C.C. ch. 15.1-23;

What you need to do: Send your final high school transcript showing your high school courses taken to the NDUS.

received a general educational development high school diploma (GED) from the North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction.

What you need to do: Send your final earned GED certificate to the NDUS.

Applicants who, because of a medically certifiable disability, may enroll at an accredited institution of higher education outside of North Dakota which offers the individual special services or facilities not available in this state, provided the institution offers a program of instruction equal to at least two academic years.

Amount: Funded recipients are eligible for up to $1,500 per year in student loan forgiveness for each year they are employed in North Dakota in an approved occupation. Benefits are capped at $6,000.

Who is eligible: Recipients include graduates who successfully completed a board-approved STEM related program at an approved college and who earned a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. Recipients must have been employed in a board-approved STEM occupation for 12 months in North Dakota following graduation. The number of loan forgiveness applications approved each year is contingent upon legislative appropriations. Not all qualified applicants are assured funding.

How to apply: Applications will not be considered if received prior to May 1. Applications will not be considered complete until all of the required information has been received by the NDUS. The date the application is considered complete will be the date used for priority funding order purposes.

Amount: Funded recipients are eligible for up to $1,000 (maximum of $3,000) in loan forgiveness for each year they teach in a teacher shortage area.

Who is eligible: Educators who teach in North Dakota at a grade level or in a content area identified by the Department of Public Instruction as a teacher shortage area. The number of loan forgiveness applications approved each year is contingent upon legislative appropriations. Not all qualified applicants are assured funding.

How to apply: Applications will not be considered if received prior to April 1. Applications will not be considered complete until all of the required information has been received by the NDUS. The date the application is considered complete will be the date used for priority funding order purposes.

Tuition and Fee ReductionsNorth Dakota University System colleges and universities have the authority to reduce tuition and fees for certain groups.

Amount: Partial to full reductions in tuition and fees are available.

Who is eligible: North Dakota National Guard members; surviving dependents of North Dakota military veterans, National Guard members, firefighters, emergency medical service personnel and peace officers who died as a result of injuries received in the line of duty; and University System employees. University System campuses also may offer tuition and fee reductions to create culturally and economically diverse student bodies, to attract graduate students and researchers, and for other purposes consistent with each institution's mission.

How to apply: Contact the North Dakota University System campus you plan to attend.